'Bronny' James, 14, announces his presence as Stephen Curry and LeBron James did before him

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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 27: Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) attempts his traditional long shot basket from the tunnel to conclude his shooting practice before their NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Once upon a time there was a precocious basketball prodigy who went by the name of James. LeBron James.

Such was James’ talent that a fool could see it coming from miles and years away. Sure enough, he averaged 20.9 points as a teenage NBA rookie, thumbing his nose at convention and norms.

The world was his.

Then along came another basketball prodigy, even more precocious than James. He went by the name of Curry. Stephen Curry.

NBA aficionados were still marveling at James when Curry hit the NBA. Curry was not ticketed for megastardom as James had been. But soon enough Curry not only excelled at the pro game, he changed it, laying waste to convention and norms. By and by, Curry and James, then in his 30s, met in four consecutive NBA Finals. Curry’s Warriors won three of the four over James’ Cavaliers, with insouciant because-I-can gambits such as this:

The world was his.

Behold, another precocious basketball prodigy is on the horizon. He goes by the name of James. Bronny James, son of LeBron. Only 14 — Curry has ankle braces older than that — he knows the game, and the game within the game. He aspires to the heights his father and Curry have reached. Recently Bronny presented a calling card to Curry, now in his 30s, the oldest member of his team. He did it with a flourish, evocative of Curry’s trick how-did-he-do-that? shots.

Gary Peterson is a sports writer for the Bay Area News Group. His prior assignments included 31 years as a sports columnist, serving as a general assignment news reporter, covering courts and writing a metro column before finding his way back to sports.